From the pause of the holidays, to full speed ahead! Things are really getting in gear at work and at home. It’s time for a new semester, which is always fun. I’ve always enjoyed the sense of a new beginning, both as a student and as an instructor. I’ve got another small group (15 students) for my systems analysis class, which is a nice number. Enough for good group dynamics but small enough to really engage everyone. It’s a busy time at my “day job” at MCNC as well, as we are in the throws of a strategic planning process, as well as getting ready to enter budget planning season.

On the home front, Scouts are busy (heading to Washington, DC on a trip tomorrow), though I’m stepping down as scoutmaster after 6 years to hand the mantle to one of my compatriots. After being a scoutmaster and a cubmaster for several years before that, I’m ready to step back from the “front-man” role. My youngest son, Jeff, is working on his Eagle project, restoring parts of an old cabin at Moorefields Plantation near Hillsborough, NC. Hope to finish by early February.

High School band is still moving on (I’m president of the band boosters) but as Jeff is not in the winter club ensembles, my personal involvement is not as great as in marching season.

Nothing of great substance here; just wanted to post a few fresh bits…

Troop 449’s monthly outing was to Stone Mountain State Park. We took a dozen scouts and 5 adults up on Saturday morning. When we got there, our campsite in the group area was still occupied, so we went over to the mountain for some climbing, rappelling, and bouldering. I took a rope up the entrance crack to the main ledge and set up a belay and a rappel. The scouts (and Bubbly!) took turns coming up the top-rope, and then rapelled back down. Loads of fun! Sunday morning, we hiked from the campground up to the top of the mountain, beautiful weather, spectacular views. Check out the slide show (requires Javascript), or just go to a directory with the pictures.

BSA troop 449 took held its October outing over the weekend of 10/8 & 10/9 at Moorefields, just south of Hillsborough NC. Moorefields is a private historical site but it is open for many uses. Be sure to call (919)732-4941 for permission to visit. Moorefields is a neat place, with the old plantation house built in 1785 as the summer home of US Supreme Court Justice Alfred Moore. It’s got acres of open space, woods, and frontage along 7-Mile Creek. Troop 449 has used it for camping for many years. On this trip, we brought our tools and worked on clearing some of the many trails on the property.

On Friday, 9/23/05, the Chapel Hill High School Marching Band opened its fall season with a trip to the CHHS-East CHHS football game (wich the CHHS Tigers won, 14-0). Along with Scouts, this is where I spend the rest of my free time. My oldest son spent 4 years with the band, and now my youngest son is a sophomore there. I’m in the Pit Crew, and I usually drive the equipment trailer.

I’ve been involved in boy scouting since I was a scout as a kid. I was an eagle scout, helped as an assistant scoutmaster before I had kids, and then when my kids were ready for scouting, moved back into scouting full bore. I was a cubmaster for 5 years, and then became a scoutmaster (4 years now) and am currently the scoutmaster of Troop 449, in Chapel Hill, NC.